via Computer and Video Games


Ubisoft has released new shots of the Wii version of Shaun White Snowboarding: Road Trip.

Just in case you've forgot, the Wii version uses the Balance Board.

Ubi says: "Get yourself into the game like never before by using the Balance Board to control your rider. Control your jumps and tricks with the intuitiveness and fun of having a snowboard in your own living room."

Could be fun. Take a look at the new shots on this very page.


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via Computer and Video Games


We've got a new movie of what we reckon will be one of the biggest PS3 hits this side of Christmas, LittleBigPlanet. Come and see why.

In case you missed it, Sony officially dated the PS3 exclusive last night during its Leipzig conference.

Mark down October 29 in your diary. It was also revealed that a new 160GB PS3 model will be released a couple of days later on Halloween.


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via Eurogamer


Eden Studios has said that it is working on a patch for the Xbox 360 version of Alone in the Dark to bring it into line with the heavily reworked PS3 version.

The developer was at Games Convention in Leipzig this week to show off the new PS3 version and own up to all the things we said were insanely rubbish during our Xbox 360 review.

Changes include streamlined inventory systems, more coherent integration of the irritating final section of the game with those flipping trees, and a better camera system and controls for on-foot and driving sections.

Eurogamer's Kristan Reed, who did not enjoy the 360 version, reports that it feels much better now that he's played a bit of the PS3 one.

Eden has not specified precisely which tweaks will appear in the 360 patch, or given any idea when it will come out, but if you want to build up a wish-list then head over to our just-published Alone in the Dark PS3 hands-on and get a pen out.

In its original form, Alone in the Dark was a flawed but occasionally brilliant stab at survival horror with just about enough going for it to squeeze a 7/10. Although the same couldn't be said of the hilarious Wii version.

If the PS3 version is genuinely an improvement, it will be very interesting to see how it scores relative to its older brother... ...

via Games Industry


Sony Computer Entertainment has confirmed the UK pricing for its new PSP 3000 and 160GB PlayStation 3.

The PSP 3000, which features an improved screen and built-in microphone, has a recommended retail price of GBP 149.99. Most internet retailers sell the current PSP Slim & Lite for around GBP 130.

The new 160GB PlayStation 3 will retail in the UK for GBP 339.99 when it goes on sale October 31.

Both units were revealed at Sony's Game Convention conference last night in Leipzig, along with a new keypad for the DualShock 3. ...

via Games Industry


Sony Computer Entertainment has confirmed the UK pricing for its new PSP 3000 and 160GB PlayStation 3.

The PSP 3000, which features an improved screen and built-in microphone, has a recommended retail price of GBP 149.99. Most internet retailers sell the current PSP Slim & Lite for around GBP 130.

The new 160GB PlayStation 3 will retail in the UK for GBP 339.99 when it goes on sale October 31.

Both units were revealed at Sony's Game Convention conference last night in Leipzig, along with a new keypad for the DualShock 3. ...

via Stuff TV




After a year long wait since it was first announced, Sony's Play TV finally arrived on our desk today. And while it was tempting just to sit and watch the Olympics all afternoon, we did have a poke around the PS3's telly recording add-on to give you this first look.

If we had a Stuff award for 'most underwhelming piece of hardware design', the Play TV box would be a tough to beat – it's a feather-light, plastic box with an aerial port, USB port and 'on' light, and doesn't even bother with the PS3's glossy laminate finish. Still, at least it has two tuners for watching one show while recording another (though not recording two live channels simultaneously).

After a lengthy firmware update, it searches for channels, then presents you with the intuitive home screen you can see above. On here, you get eight menus: 'Live TV', 'Guide' (a 7-day EPG), 'Schedule' (a list of programes you have queued for recording), 'Library' (a list of all your recorded programmes), 'Find + record' (a search function) , 'Manual' (a help screen) and 'Settings'.

The menus are pleasantly slick – you can call up the full EPG, or just scroll through channels in a smaller menu at the bottom of the screen. The box turns red if it's scheduled to record, and behind the text a bar indicates how far you've got through the programme. There's also the option of an on-screen remote (see below) and chase play (the ability to start watching a programme that's still recording).

But there are a few downers. In order to allow recording while you're doing other things on your PS3 (say, playing Haze) you have to allow 'background recording', and there's a warning that this may cause slow-down and effect gameplay.

Then there are those bomb-shells that we revealed a few days ago, namely no 1080i recording at launch and the inclusion of pesky DRM. Although we haven't yet had the chance to test it with our PSP, this will mean you'll have to record shows via Remote Play to watch them on your handheld console rather than just sticking them on a memory stick and transferring them.

Play TV will be hitting shelves on 10th September for £70, but we'll bring you a full review before then to let you know whether or not to splash your cash.


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via Eurogamer


At its press conference at the Leipzig Games Convention, Sony lifted the lid on Heavy Rain, a "dark thriller" for PS3 due in 2009.

The game appears to be an extremely cinematic adventure with horror overtones, and a mature, emotionally involving story exploring adult themes not seen in videogames before is promsied.

Live gameplay footage was shown, but aside from very quick button-prompt flashes on-screen, it was virtually indistinguishable from a cut-scene, with fast cutting between static cameras.

David Cage, the writer and director of the game and head of French developer Quantic Dream, said it would be a new kind of emotional, story-led experience not seen in games before.

"For years we wanted to create a different type of experience not based on repetitive actions... but really based on narrative and emotion," Cage said. He said the core of the game would be "emotional involvement, empathy, contextual actions, moral choices and decision making".

He said the player would be " the actor, but also the writer and director at the same time," making decisions that have lasting consequences for the story that's told in Heavy Rain.

The footage showed what seemed to be a rain-soaked American suburban street, with children playing in a front yard. A young woman with short hair made a note into a voice recorder before breaking into a darkened house.

The house contained strangely-dresssed mannequins and the dark outlines of huge ravens hanging from the ceiling. The woman was attacked by a knife-wielding assailant and a very fast-paced combat scene began.

As the woman blocked her attacker with furniture, her actions seemed to be guided by button prompts on the screen; rather than combinations, these appeared to be single quick presses of the four shape buttons only.

Having effected her escape, the camera went in for a close-up, showing the a remarkable level of facial detail, with stunningly lifelike eyes in particular.

Quantic Dream is the French studio behind cult adventures The Nomad Soul and Fahrenheit. Heavy Rain was first seen at E3 two years ago in the form of a tech demo called The Casting, showing its advanced facial animation technology.

After David Cage departed the stage, Sony Europe boss David Reeves described Heavy Rain as "the great game for PlayStation 3 next year". ...

via IGN


Judging by the latest trailer footage, Square Enix's The 3rd Birthday looked like it might be a Kill Bill simulation. Thankfully, the latest issue of Famitsu came through today with hints at the true nature of the title.

According to project director Hajime Tabata, this PSP Parasite Eve sequel is going to be a true 3D gun action game. Noting that it will differ from Final Fantasy VII Dirge of Cerberus, he described it as a "true third person shooter."

Square Enix is working with another development studio on the game, Tabata revealed, without naming names.

Tabata also revealed that wireless play is being considered. He didn't state if this would be 'net based or ad-hoc, although it's worth noting that the aim for Tabata's other directorial project, Final Fantasy Agito XIII, is online-based play.

Finally, Tabata shared a couple of bits about the game's storyline and gameplay systems. These two areas are intertwined thanks to something called "overdrive," an ability that crosses time. Aya, the hero, uses this ability to both look into the mysteries of the game's enemies, the Twisted, and to fight them.

While stopping short of sharing an actual release time frame, Tabata did state that the game's scenario and design are nearing completion. ...

via IGN


EA announced today that FIFA 09, much like NBA Live 09, will be updated constantly with ratings and performance data in a system known as the adidas Live Season.

Unlike NBA Live 09, which updates daily, FIFA 09 will update on a weekly basis. The updated data will be available for England's Premiership, Spain's La Liga, France's Ligue 1, Germany's Bundesliga, Italy's Serie A, and Mexico's Primera Division. The updates will be made available for PS3, 360, and the PC.

EA promises that a "global network of scouts" will be monitoring players in their respective leagues and adjusting attributes on a weekly basis; what's interesting, though, is that the service might have a fee. EA notes that gamers "…will have access to one league of their choice for a free trial from the moment they activate it to the end of the 2008-2009 season", which certainly implies that receiving updates for all leagues would incur fees.

In addition, EA also announced that they'd acquired an exclusive licensing agreement with Spain's La Liga to implement their teams and players in their games.

Stay tuned to IGN for more details on FIFA 09 and how Live Season will be integrated in.


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